My woman is allowed to rest

The young woman lying beneath him had her eyes tightly closed, her breaths coming in uneven, shallow waves. It was clear she was nervous, even uneasy, but she didn't pull away. Instead, she remained obedient and allowed him to lead, yielding to whatever he wanted.

But Cassius wasn't just looking for compliance; he wanted something deeper, something more.

His lips paused suddenly, and Lia slowly opened her eyes to find him gazing intently at her.

"Cassius," she whispered, her voice tinged with worry, unsure if she had done something wrong.

He let out a soft sigh. "Lia, kiss me."

Hesitantly, she leaned up and kissed him, but it was clear she lacked skill. Cassius quickly took over, his movements intense and consuming, like a storm overtaking her. She clung to him, feeling like a fragile bird drowning in a tempest, holding on for dear life.

But why did he seem angry? What was he trying to prove?

Before she could think too much about it, his intensity left no room for doubt or hesitation. She felt her grip on the quilt slacken, and instead, her arms circled his back, drawing him closer.

That simple gesture seemed to please him immensely, and he responded with even more fervor.

The moonlight spilled across them, bathing the room in a soft glow, highlighting the delicate moment between them, full of tenderness and passion.

And gradually, Lia let herself get lost in it all.

...

The Next Morning.

Lia woke up late—something that rarely happened to her. The first time had been because of a cold, but today was different. Her whole body ached, every muscle felt sore, and even the smallest movement sent pain shooting through her limbs. She felt like she'd been hit by a truck.

Her eyes were heavy, and she was still overwhelmingly tired, but she forced herself to get up.

Cassius, on the other hand, was already dressed, tying his tie with a fresh, alert demeanor. He looked like he hadn't lost a wink of sleep, despite the fact that they hadn't gone to bed until almost dawn.

"Cassius," she called out softly, her voice still thick with sleep.

"Rest," he said firmly, his tone gentle but commanding. He stopped her from sitting up, leaning down to press a kiss to her forehead.

"Is there anything I should do today?" Lia asked, trying to sound responsible.

"Why are you so eager to work?" he asked, a teasing smile playing on his lips.

She lowered her eyes, then looked up at him with a small smile. "I'm being paid by the boss, aren't I?"

Cassius chuckled and brushed a hand over her head. "Rest."

"If I get lazy now, it will only get worse," she murmured.

In the Valen household, she had once overslept and failed to wake Lucas on time, making him late for school. The other servants had all blamed her, and Mrs. Selena had punished her by not allowing her to eat for a whole day. It was a small punishment, but it had left a lasting impression on Lia.

"My woman is allowed to rest," Cassius said, his tone unwavering. "Get some more sleep, and then you can have breakfast."

Lia stared at him, and after a moment of hesitation, she gave in.

In the Valen household, she had never had any time to herself. Every moment was dictated by Mrs. Selena and Lucas, and any mistakes were met with harsh consequences. She had always strived for perfection, afraid of the punishment that would follow if she slipped up.

She had been like a living doll, always obeying, always pleasing. Now, this man was giving her the freedom she never had before. It was both a relief and a source of anxiety.

"Thank you," she said quietly, her voice filled with gratitude and confusion. She was used to enduring, to surviving each day without complaint. Now, with Cassius telling her she didn't have to, she felt a strange mixture of freedom and uncertainty.

Could she really let go and rest? She didn't know.

After he left, Lia dozed for another hour before getting up. She was too accustomed to waking early to sleep any longer.

As she went downstairs, she noticed the curious glances from the staff. Feeling slightly self-conscious, she smiled politely at Max, who greeted her.

"Miss Lia, breakfast is ready," he said, his tone respectful.

"Thank you." Lia took a seat, feeling an odd sense of displacement. She was used to preparing breakfast for others, not having it prepared for her.

After she finished eating, Lia was getting ready to leave when her phone rang.

"Cassius," she answered softly.

"How was breakfast? Did you like it?" His voice was warm, almost tender. He had personally instructed the kitchen to prepare something light, considering how exhausted she had been.

Lia looked back at the table, smiling a little. "It was delicious."

There was a brief pause on his end, and then he added, "There's some medicine in the bedside drawer. I applied it for you this morning. Use more if you feel sore."

Lia's cheeks flared with heat. She had no idea when he had applied the medicine or when she had fallen asleep. "I'm fine," she stammered. "Thank you for doing that."

"Where are you heading? Make sure to use the car," he reminded her, remembering how she had refused to take the arranged transport last time.

"Yes, I'll take the car," she promised. She had no intention of turning down his offer again.

"Rest well at lunch. You probably didn't sleep much either," she added gently.

He chuckled, clearly amused. "Alright."

"I'll let you get back to work. Goodbye."

"Goodbye," he said, his tone lingering before hanging up.

After the call, Cassius leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples as a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. He looked genuinely content, a rare expression for him.

Just then, there was a knock on the office door.

"Come in," he called.

Kyle, his assistant, stepped in with a respectful nod. "Boss, the noon meeting has been scheduled as you requested."

"Move it to the afternoon," Cassius said abruptly.

Kyle's eyes widened in surprise. "Yes, of course. I'll handle it right away. So... what should I do about lunch?"

"Take a break," Cassius said casually, catching his assistant off guard.

Kyle's jaw dropped slightly. He couldn't believe his ears. Did his workaholic boss just say "take a break"? It was almost as shocking as seeing Cassius skip work entirely earlier that week.

Kyle nodded, trying to hide his bewilderment. "Understood, sir."

....

Lia arrived at the hospital and spotted Dr. Arthur as soon as she walked in.

"Lia, here to visit your grandmother?" he greeted her warmly.

"Yes, Dr. Arthur," she replied with a smile. She had complete faith in his skills, and they had already scheduled her grandmother's surgery.

Karen, her adoptive mother, showed up a few moments later, immediately latching onto Arthur's presence. "Oh, Dr. Arthur, it's so good to see you!" she gushed, always eager to catch his attention.

Arthur nodded politely and then excused himself. "Sorry, I have a few matters to attend to."

"Dr. Arthur, wait!" Karen called out, clearly disappointed, but he was already walking away.

Lia couldn't help but chuckle to herself. Dr. Arthur was far too astute not to notice Karen's blatant matchmaking efforts, but he was too polite to outright reject her.

In the ward, Grandma greeted Lia with a warm smile. "Lia, you're here again? I'm fine, really."

"Grandma, I just missed you," Lia said softly. She was grateful for the days off Cassius had given her so she could be there.

Karen followed them into the room, immediately starting her usual questioning. "Lia, tell me about this boyfriend of yours. Does he have a house? What are his family's conditions?"

The other day, someone had approached Lia with a marriage proposal for Lia, and she had delayed things under the pretense of caring for her mother-in-law. But she couldn't keep postponing forever.

"Karen, why don't you go home?" Grandma interrupted sharply, disliking how her daughter-in-law only seemed interested in money.

"Mom, I'm only thinking of what's best for Lia," Karen said, her tone dripping with false sincerity. "The family next door, you know, the ones who run the butcher shop—they're doing well. Their son is interested in Lia, and I thought..."

Karen's intentions were clear. The neighboring family had promised her a substantial sum if she could convince Lia to marry their son.

"What? You want Lia to marry into their family?" Grandma asked incredulously.

Her objections weren't about the family's trade; it was about the son. He wasn't single—he was a divorcee known for his temper. There was no way she'd allow her granddaughter to marry such a man.

"Well, I heard he's stopped his bad habits. He'd be a good match for Lia," Karen insisted, showing no concern for anything but the potential payout.

Lia stepped forward, her voice steady and firm. "Mom, I already have a boyfriend. I won't consider anyone else. So you might as well give up now."